The GitHub Podcast

Helen Hou-Sandí, an engineering manager for GitHub's Accessibility Engineering team and a lead developer for WordPress, discusses exciting advancements in open source. She highlights Maintainer Tiny Wins, which implement small fixes for huge time savings. Helen explains the new accessibility scanner and its importance, as well as the rise of the Model Context Protocol as an open standard. The conversation also covers how accessibility improvements can enhance overall user experience and the integration of AI in contributing to projects.

A captivating conversation unfolds as maintainers of critical open source projects discuss their journey toward enhanced security. They share insights on how a three-week sprint transformed their understanding and processes. Topics include creating incident response plans, hardening GitHub Actions, and the value of safe spaces for asking questions. The group also dives into the evolving landscape of AI security, exploring both the benefits of using tools like GitHub Copilot and the challenges posed by attackers leveraging AI. It's a deep dive into collaboration, learning, and community impact.

Join Angie Jones, VP of Engineering at Block and AI tools advocate, as she reveals the transformative power of Goose, an open-source AI agent. Discover Goose's practical applications, such as aiding struggling students and streamlining sales processes. Angie shares insights on building trust in AI access, the importance of real-world use cases over flashy demos, and her innovative AI Builder Fellowship designed to cultivate the next generation of AI creators. Tune in for a fascinating look at the future of AI in everyday tasks!

Frank “Frenck” Nijhof, project lead for Home Assistant and a GitHub Star, discusses the rise of privacy-first smart homes. He highlights how Home Assistant runs automations locally, avoiding cloud reliance. Frenck reveals unique automations from the community, like using sensors for couch weight and home breweries. He explains the mission of the Open Home Foundation to promote sustainability and prevent vendor lock-in. Additionally, he shares insights on the new Assist voice assistant and how non-coders can contribute to this welcoming open source project.

Join Jeff Luszcz, data lead for GitHub's Octoverse report, as he dives into the rise of TypeScript over Python, driven by strong tooling and AI's influence. Discover how AI is transforming coding through vibe coding and scaffolding, alongside the surge of 180M developers on GitHub—over one new developer every second! Jeff discusses the unexpected comeback of COBOL and the staggering 1.12 billion open source contributions, highlighting the global growth of developers in India, Brazil, and Indonesia.

Felix Reda, Director of Developer Policy at GitHub and open source funding advocate, joins Christian Grobmeier, a seasoned Apache Log4J maintainer, to dissect the significant fallout from the Log4Shell vulnerability. They detail how this incident reshaped government views on open source and spurred the creation of Germany’s Sovereign Tech Fund. The duo discusses the surprising dynamics of project funding, the importance of community health for sustainability, and the lessons learned about diverse funding models that could shape future policies.

Mike McQuaid, the project lead of Homebrew with over 16 years of experience, shares his insights on maintaining one of the most essential developer tools. He discusses how to effectively scale contributions through automation and governance while keeping a small team motivated. Mike emphasizes the importance of soft power in leadership, setting boundaries, and saying no to prevent burnout. He also delves into the evolving support for open source from GitHub and the responsible use of AI, highlighting the significance of clear documentation and face-to-face interactions.

Keeley Hammond, a longtime maintainer of Electron, discusses the transformative impact of the framework on cross-platform desktop app development. She shares her journey and highlights how Electron fosters a welcoming open source community. The conversation dives into governance practices, the balance between paid and volunteer maintainers, and innovative automation tools to manage contributor onboarding. Keeley also tackles the rising challenges posed by AI-generated spam and the importance of nurturing a vibrant contributor culture.

The hosts dive into the rising trend of DIY software tools, celebrating innovation in open-source projects. They discuss how AI is transforming custom software development, empowering anyone to create personalized solutions. Insights into simple tools that streamline workflows demonstrate how small projects can make a big difference. Personal anecdotes highlight the joy of creative problem-solving and the tangible benefits of developing unique applications for enhanced productivity.

Jason Lengstorf, a developer advocate and creator of CodeTV, discusses his journey in open source and the emphasis on making developer education fun. He dives into the evolution of JavaScript and the impact of AI tools on web development. The conversation highlights how open source fosters community and innovation, showcasing lesser-known projects like Zod and SQLite. Additionally, the team shares their favorite open source tools and the importance of accessibility and collaboration in learning for developers today.